Digital Design Lead

Digital IC Design Lead
Location: Fareham, Hampshire
Salary: Up to £87,000 + bonus
Contract: Permanent

We re recruiting for a Digital IC Design Lead on behalf of a high-growth semiconductor organisation operating at the forefront of advanced electronics. This is a senior technical leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape next-generation digital ICs used in safety-critical and high-performance applications.

You ll lead the digital development activity across complex ASIC and MCU products, combining hands-on technical oversight with team leadership, project delivery and cross-functional collaboration across global engineering teams.

The Role
This position leads all digital IC development activities, from translating product requirements into robust digital architectures, through design, verification and validation, to silicon delivery.

You ll manage and mentor a team of IC engineers while working closely with system architecture, software, sensor and analogue teams locally, and backend, test and reliability teams internationally.

Key Responsibilities

• Define digital requirements derived from product and system specifications
• Lead digital architecture, design, implementation, verification and validation activities
• Drive development of next-generation ICs and MCUs to high reliability and safety standards
• Provide technical direction to improve performance, power efficiency and cost
• Manage digital IP development and third-party IP integration
• Oversee resource planning, project schedules, budgets and delivery milestones
• Mentor, coach and technically develop IC design engineers
• Represent the digital team in EDA tool selection and methodology decisions
• Collaborate across global engineering teams to ensure seamless design flow
• Support silicon debug, failure analysis and validation activities

Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Degree-qualified (BEng or MEng) in Electronics, Engineering or a related discipline
• 5+ years experience in digital or mixed-signal IC design (ASIC preferred)
• Proven experience leading or managing engineers or technical projects
• Strong knowledge of the full digital IC design lifecycle from specification to silicon
• Experience with low-power design and power management techniques
• Solid understanding of EDA tools and digital design flows through to timing sign-off
• Knowledge of DfT, DfM, silicon debug and failure analysis methodologies
• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead in complex, ambiguous environments

Desirable:

• Mixed-signal design exposure
• Experience with safety-critical or high-reliability designs (e.g. ISO 26262)
• Familiarity with full front-end and back-end ASIC flows
• Knowledge of IP maturity models and IP supply chain management
• Python scripting or automation experience
• Experience using tools such as JIRA and Confluence

Why Apply?

• Salary up to £87,000 plus annual bonus
• Senior technical leadership role with real influence over future products
• Opportunity to work on complex, next-generation semiconductor designs
• Hybrid working and modern office environment
• Strong benefits package including pension, private medical and dental cover
• Clear long-term career development within a growing semiconductor business

For more information or to apply, contact:
Lewis Phillips
(phone number removed)
(url removed)